Surface condenser



July 2, 1929. J. F. KIRGAN SURFACE CONDENSER Filed Oct. 19 1927 INVENTO-RQ tlbhn 11 Liam H15 A'T ORNEY Patented July 2, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT JOHNZF. KIRGAN, OF EAS'ION, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO INGERSOLL RAND GOM- PANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

svamea co nausr a a Application filed October 19, 1927. Serial No. 22?;173.

This invention relates to surface condensers, and more particularly to that type of condenser provided with aplurality of steam condensing tubes arrangedtransversely with respect to the steam inlet and interposed be tween the steam inlet and the outlet for air and uncondensable gases. i

One object of the invention is to enable all of the steam condensing surfaces of the cool ing tubes to be utilized for condensing steam in proportion to their steam condensing capacity. Another object is to proportiontheamount of steam flowing to the warmer and cooler sections so as to produce most eflicient results for a given amount of tube surfaces.

These and other objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the drawings, in which Figure l is a longitudinal central section through a condenser constructed in accordance with the practice or: the invention, and Figure 2 a central cross section of the condenser along the line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, the condenser comprises a casingor shell A provided with an inlet water box Bat one end and an outlet water box C at the other end between which are arranged transverse to the direction of steam flow at the steam inlet D a plurality .of cooling tubes E. At their ends the tubes E are sealed at tube sheets F to prevent leak age of the circulating water into the interior 0f the shell A. A condensate outlet G preferably remote from the steam inlet D is formed integrally with the shell A.

In operation the circulating water flows into the inlet water box B at a supply connection H and passes through the tubes E into the discharge Water box C and thence through a discharge connection J to a suitable receiver.

' thereto being condensed before it reaches the cooler portions. To this end the condenser is provided with means for directing steam to the various portions of the condenser in amounts in proportion to their steam condensing capacity. In this instance, the con denser is provided with a central partition K extending across the tube bank formed by the tubes E to the sides of the casing and preferably this partition is substantially sealed at its edges so as to form two distinct compartment-s within the condenser, the one compartment to the left (Figure 1) being the cooler since it is nearerthe inlet water box and the compartment to the right of the partition K, it being warmer since it is nearer the outlet water box C. Preferably the tubesfE are very closely spaced so as to provide a maximum cooling area and in order that the steam may readily enter into the tube bank, by-passes L are" formedby bulging the sides of the casing for a short portion of its length adjacent the steam inlet D and on both sides of the partition KL Vacuum Within the condenser is produced by suitable evacuating apparatus (not shown) attached toair outlets 0 and P respectively, the air outlet Obeing placed at the most remote place from the steam inlet B and serving the cooler compartment of the condenserandthe air outlet P serving the warmer compartment of the condenser and likewise being remote from the steam inlet D. The bypasses L are preferably graduated from top to bottom being wider near the steam inlet D and tapering to substantially nothing at the bottom of the condenser. Since the spaces in the by-passes L near the bottom are nearer the air outlets O and P, steam would tend to flow around the bank of tubes and along the lower tubes directly to the air outlets O and P. This tendency is counteracted by the tapering of the by-passes L from top to bottom.

The larger quantity of steam enters the tube bank at the top due to its velocity and tends to flow toward the air outlets O and P at which the highest vacuum is maintained by the evacuating apparatus (not shown). Because of the arrangement of the tubes E the steam is deflected still more and diffused to the ends of the tube bank. The natural tendency of the steam would be to divide at the partition K and a slightly greater amount will flow to the cooler end if the same vacuum was maintained at the air out- Thus by theabove construction are accomplisheda nongotliers, the objects hereinbefore referred to.

lets O and P: However, sufiicient steam would notnormally pass to the" cooler end to contact with all of the tube surfaces espe-' cially near v.theitubeiasheet F.

In order that steam may bedrawn into all portions of the cooler compartment served by the air outlet 0 a higher vacuum is maintained at the air outlet 0 to draw more steam to the cooler end than the warmer end. The

Iclaim: v '1; A surfacefcondenser comprising a shell having a steam inlet and'an outlet for condensate" remote I therefrom, a plurality of cooling tubes arranged transversely to the r steam inlet and interposed between said inlet andsaid condensate outlet, and means for directing the'steam to all'parts'ot said condenser in proportion to their steam condensing capacity, comprising a partition divid-' ing the condenser into two compartments substantially sealed from each other below vthe cooling tubes, a by-pass at the central section of said condenser to permit steam to enterthe tube bank at the top and sides and near thecentral section, and steam outlet, said outlets being adapted to be maintained at different degrees of vacuum.

2. A steam condenser comprising a shell having a steam inlet and outlet for condensate remote therefrom, a plurality of cooling tubes arranged transverse to the steam inlet andinterposed between said steam inlet and said condensate outlet, and means to direct said steam to the various portions of said condenser in proportion to the steam condensing capacity of said cooling tubes, comprising a central partition dividing said condenser into two compartments, graduated bypasses around said tubes at the central section only to permit steam to enter the tube bank at the top and at the sides in graduated amounts, and air outlets remote from the by passes on either side thereof adapted to be maintained at dill'erent degrees oi vacuum.

A steam condenser comprising a haul; of cooling tubes, a casing closely surrounding said tube bank for a part of its lenglh, said casingbeing provided with a steam inlet and a condensate outlet, a central partition in said casing dividing said condenser at the steam inlet into two compartments substantially sealed from each other at said bank of tubes, and by-passes termed integrally with said casing adjacent the steam inlet and graduated in the direction of the condensate outlet and air outlets, remote from the steam inlet and by-passes on either side thereof adapted to be maintained at di 1'- ferent degrees of vacuum.

In testimony whereof 1 have signed this specification.

JOHN F. KTRGAN. 

